The Role of Nuclear Medicine in Imaging and Therapy of Prostate Cancer: The State of the Art.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most diagnosed cancer in men. In recent years, nuclear medicine has played an expanding role in diagnosing, staging, monitoring, and treating PCa. Specifically, the introduction of prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/computed tomography has significantly contributed to detecting locoregional and distant disease.

Transformations in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Surgical Practices: A Longitudinal Study of Trends and Predictions.

Introduction: The workload for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) surgery is expected to rise with an increase in life expectancy and a growing population. Surgical modalities for BPH have evolved, shifting toward minimally invasive transurethral procedures. This study aimed to investigate the trends in BPH surgical procedures across medical centers in Israel.

Robotic partial nephrectomy is associated with a significantly decreased rate of postoperative pseudoaneurysm compared to open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.

While partial nephrectomy offers oncologic efficacy and preserves renal function for T1 renal tumors, renal artery pseudoaneurysm (RAP) remains a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. This study compared RAP incidence across robotic-assisted (RAPN), laparoscopic (LPN), and open (OPN) partial nephrectomies in a large tertiary oncological center. This retrospective study analyzed 785 patients undergoing partial nephrectomy between 2012 and 2022 (398 RAPN, 122 LPN, 265 OPN).

High ambient temperature impact on the pattern of emergency-room visits due to renal colic in the Middle East.

Urolithiasis has a seasonal pattern, with an established increase in incidence during the summer months. This study aims to assess the impact of high ambient temperatures on emergency room (ER) visits related to renal colic (RC) in a Middle Eastern country over the past decade. Population data were extracted using the MDClone Big Data platform.

Do Urine Cytology and FISH Analysis Have a Role in the Follow-Up Protocol of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma?

Background: Current guidelines recommend a stringent follow-up regimen that includes interval cystoureteronephscopy, CT urography, and selective urine cytology sampling for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients undergoing endoscopic treatment and management. There are no recommendations regarding FISH analysis. Our purpose was to assess the efficacy of cytology and FISH as part of the follow-up protocol and its significance to clinical decision-making in this scenario.

A clinical evaluation of an organ culture system to predict patient response to cancer therapy.

Introduction: organ cultures (EVOC) were recently optimized to sustain cancer tissue for 5 days with its complete microenvironment. We examined the ability of an EVOC platform to predict patient response to cancer therapy.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective, single-arm observational trial.

The Added Value of Systematic Sampling in In-Bore Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Prostate Biopsy.

We sought to quantify the additive value of systematic biopsy (SB) using in-bore magnetic resonance (MR)-guided prostate biopsy (IBMRGpB) by retrospectively reviewing the records of 189 patients who underwent IBMRGpB for suspected prostate cancer or as part of the surveillance protocol for previously diagnosed prostate cancer. The endpoints included clinically significant and non-clinically significant cancer diagnosis. SB detected clinically significant disease in 67 (35.

Unveiling the Challenges in Tandem Ureteral Stent Management for Malignant Ureteral Obstruction: Failure Rate, Risk Factors, and Durability of Their Replacement.

Background: Malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) is a sequela of advanced malignant disease that requires renal drainage, with tandem ureteral stents (TUSs) being a viable option. This study aimed to evaluate the TUS failure rate, associated risk factors, and the feasibility of replacing failed TUSs with a new pair of stents.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of MUO patients treated with TUS insertion from 2014 to 2022 was conducted.

Strategies of Endoscopic Management of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma among Endourologists: A Global Survey.

Up-to-date guidelines on the management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) are continuously published. We aim to assess the variability of diagnosis and treatment strategies in the endoscopic management of UTUC and adherence to European Association of Urology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. A 15-question survey was designed to query practitioners on approaches to clinical practice and knowledge about endoscopic treatment indications and techniques.

Autoimmune disorders caused by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerine treatment: A systematic review.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a common and highly effective treatment for non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. BCG may cause an autoimmune reaction in some patients. One hundred and fifty-eight papers were analyzed, for a total of hundred and thirty patients with reactive arthritis, sixty patients with ocular manifestations and eighteen patients with other rheumatologic diseases.

Association between COVID-19 Burden, Population Vaccination Status, and Urologic Oncology Surgery Volume: A National Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Initial deleterious effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on urologic oncology surgeries are well described, but the possible influence of vaccination efforts and those of pandemic conditions on surgical volumes is unclear. Our aim was to examine the association between changing vaccination status and COVID-19 burden throughout the pandemic and the volume of urologic oncology surgeries in Israel. This multi-center cross-sectional study included data collected from five tertiary centers between January 2019 and December 2021.

Laparoscopic Versus Robot-Assisted Pyeloplasty in Adults-A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Laparoscopic (LP) and robot-assisted pyeloplasty (RAP) are minimally invasive techniques for correcting uretero-pelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). We retrospectively compared the clinical outcomes of all adults who underwent RAP (n = 41) to those who underwent LP (n = 24) for UPJO at our institution between 2003−2022. Methods: Age, sex, body mass index, surgical side, past abdominal/endoscopic surgeries, pre- and postoperative renal scans, pre- and postoperative serum creatinine levels, operative time (OT), presence of crossing vessels, estimated blood loss, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, time to JJ stent removal, follow-up length, and postoperative hydronephrosis were analyzed.

Diagnosing Oncocytoma by Core Needle Biopsy: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Oncocytoma is one of the most common benign kidney tumors, accounting for 3-7% of all solid renal masses. Diagnosing oncocytomas using renal biopsy remains a controversy in the uro-pathologic community. With the increasing use of biopsies for assessment of renal lesions, reaching this pathologically benign diagnosis may prevent further surgical measures and have significant clinical benefit.

Quality of life with tandem ureteral stents compared to percutaneous nephrostomy for malignant ureteral obstruction.

Purpose: Malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO) is treated with kidney decompression by a percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) or internal ureteral stents. The objective of this study was to compare quality of life (QoL) with a PCN compared to tandem ureteral stents (TUS) in cases of MUO.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with MUO who were treated by PCN/TUS in our institution between June 2019 and May 2020.

Reply to Veerman et al. Comment on "Rosenzweig et al. Very Low Prostate PET/CT PSMA Uptake May Be Misleading in Staging Radical Prostatectomy Candidates. 2022, , 410".

We thank the commenters for their important insights [...

Association between early change in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio after radical cystectomy and treatment outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the associations of peri-operative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and change in NLR with survival after radical cystectomy.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a multicentre cohort of patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy between 2010 and 2020. Preoperative NLR, postoperative NLR, delta-NLR (postoperative minus preoperative NLR) and NLR change (postoperative divided by preoperative NLR) were calculated.

Very Low Prostate PET/CT PSMA Uptake May Be Misleading in Staging Radical Prostatectomy Candidates.

Purpose: to evaluate a unique subpopulation of radical prostatectomy (RP) candidates with “negative” prostate 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography (CT) imaging scans and to characterize the clinical implications of misleading findings. Materials and Methods: This case-control retrospective study compared the final histological outcomes of patients with “negative” pre-RP PSMA PET/CT prostate scans (with a prostate maximal standardized uptake value [SUVmax] below the physiologic uptake) to those with an “intense” prostatic tracer uptake (with a SUVmax above the physiologic uptake). The patients underwent an RP between March 2015 and July 2019 in five academic centers.

Nutritional Status Impairment Due to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Predicts Post-Radical Cystectomy Complications.

Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is associated with improved patient survival. The impact of NAC on nutritional status is understudied, while the association between malnutrition and poor surgical outcomes is well known.

The association between adrenal adenoma size, autonomous cortisol secretion and metabolic derangements.

Objective: Autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) is common in patients with adrenal incidentalomas (AI). ACS is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Data regarding the association between radiological characteristics of adrenal adenomas, their hormonal functionality and metabolic outcomes, are scarce and inconclusive.

The urologist's learning curve of "in-bore" magnetic resonance-guided prostate biopsy.

Background: The combination of multi-parametric MRI to locate and define suspected lesions together with their being targeted by an MRI-guided prostate biopsy has succeeded in increasing the detection rate of clinically significant disease and lowering the detection rate of non-significant prostate cancer. In this work we investigate the urologist's learning curve of in-bore MRI-guided prostate biopsy which is considered to be a superior biopsy technique.

Materials And Methods: Following Helsinki approval by The Chaim Sheba Medical Center ethics committee in accordance with The Sheba Medical Center institutional guidelines (5366-28-SMC) we retrospectively reviewed 110 IB-MRGpBs performed from 6/2016 to 1/2019 in a single tertiary center.

[UPPER TRACT UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA].

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma is a relatively rare malignancy, but with an increasing prevalence. The main risk factor for the disease is smoking. The most common presentation is hematuria or flank pain.

[FOCAL TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER - LEADING AND FUTURE TECHNIQUES, OUTCOMES AND COMPLICATIONS].

Focal treatment for prostate cancer has been proposed as an innovative strategy that aims to achieve oncological benefit while reducing treatment-related morbidity. This treatment is suitable for patients with low and intermediate risk, organ-confined disease. Focal therapy can be categorized as follows: unifocal index lesion ablation, multifocal ablation, hemi-gland ablation or subtotal gland ablation.

[CLINICAL OUTCOMES FOLLOWING ROBOT-ASSISTED PARTIAL NEPHRECTOMY (RAPN)].

Background: Partial nephrectomy is the gold standard treatment for renal tumors less than 7 cm.

Objectives: To describe surgical techniques and trends of treating renal tumors less than 7 cm at our department and present the clinical outcomes of our experience with Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy (RAPN).

Methods: Out of an established prospective RAPN database, we retrieved demographic, clinical, surgical and pathological parameters.